Observations on December 31st, Campaign Day Eight.

1. The 100% PAP-oriented print and broadcast media continues their propaganda unflinchingly. We NEED a Fairness In Media body. Not a lameduck outfit like the Consumer Association of Singapore who's president is a PAP bloke Toh See Kiat - I do think he will fight for consumer rights. NOT. Singapore's media soul has finally been sacrificed at the altar of political kowtowism. The soul was sold to the devil and the devil, sad to say, is the PAP.

2. I am so thrilled to have attended the WP lunchtime rally at the OUB Plaza along the Singapore River adjacent to the south end of Boat Quay.

3. I got there at about 1215 hrs and the crowd was so thick that I could not get nearer than say 100 meters from the stage. I would estimate about 8-10K people. The crowd was cheering to most points being made and one could sense the excitement - an excitement reminiscent of the Kallang Roar when Singapore scores. The WP rally is like scoring a goal against the puritanical, authoritarian and arrogant PAP. Absolute power does indeed corrupt absolutely. I am now 100% convinced that the PAP is at that stage.

4. As I was approaching the rally, whoever the speaker was, was indeed getting applause after applause. I could not see the stage to determine who it was. About 5 minutes later, JBJ came on to announce the next speaker who happened to be Low Thia Kang. The crowd broke out into a roaring applause - It was simply great. I must confess something here - I was never impressed by Low primarily due to his inability to speak well. But, this time, even though I could see that he reading from a script, he spoke very well and in a polished manner. Although I am not a voter in Hougang, I think Low is, on the count of communication, on par with whoever is running against him from the PAP. Low's speech can be summarized in two of his own words - Hobson's Choice. PAP's threats and high-handedness is like tossing a coin and saying "heads I win, tails you loose". Low read out from either a speech given by OM Lee to the Malaysian parliament back in 1964 or an article in a late 1950s version of the PAP smear sheer, Petir (I don't recall which now), in which OM Lee extolled the need for a free and fair press and open access to information. Funny, OM Lee should have said that then. In 1996 for sure, OM Lee does not advocate the same thing - could he at 74 be suffering from selective amnesia? Or is the PAP so intoxicated from the taste of power for over 37 years that it has completely lost it's bearings? I think a drunkard coming out of a Boat Quay pub at 0400 could walk straighter and truer than the PAP at high noon!

5. After Low came JBJ himself to a tumultuous applause. In fact, a supporter came on stage and held JBJ's hand up high exclaiming "Worker's Party, Worker's Party". I cannot imagine a similar thing at a PAP rally. In fact, at the only PAP rally I attended, the PAP stage was clearly separated from the audience by about 5 meters of empty space - kinda symbolic, but nonetheless telling on how the PAP views itself relative to the population!

6. JBJ was eloquent as usual, and he was noticeably thrilled that Chok Tong is campaigning heavily in Cheng San to ensure that the WP team does not win. JBJ, who is running on the WP Cheng San GRC ticket, was wondering aloud on the real motives of Chok Tong's move to support the PAP Cheng San team lead by a weightless minister Lee Yoke Suan (the incumbent Minister of Education). Side note: a lot of teachers I know - in excess of 60 - actually do not *KNOW* who their boss is. Somehow I am the least bit surprised. The Ministry of Education is in total mess (along with the education system). Chok Tong has obvioulsy felt that with a weightless minister in that GRC, votes for that PAP would not be forthcoming.

7. JBJ addressed the issues surrounding Tang Liang Mong, his fellow team member who is been pap smeared as a dangerous man, a Chinese chauvinist and a Christian-hater. JBJ said that it is a complete and utter nonsense what the PAP is smearing for, in JBJ opinion, Tang is not anything they make out to be. Tang's daugther is a Christian, JBJ is a Christian - why would Tang Christian-hater as is being made out by the media aka PAP? If Tang is a Chinese chauvinist, then how come Tang can speak Malay fluently and has learned Indian classical dancing many years ago? Although JBJ did not say this, I wish he did, the Jalan Besar PAP man Choo Wee Khiang has said far worse racist things in Parliament. How would Chok Tong compare Wee Khiang and Tang? I would like, you, Mr PM, to tell me as a voter and as a citizen where you stand with regards to Wee Khiang vis-a-vis Tang.

8. After JBJ's spiel, came Tang. He started off in Malay (with a tinge of Indonesian accent) and was warmly applauded. I cannot think for one moment the same fluency of any of the non-Malay PAP candidates. Tang made one very potent statement using a Malay proverb, translated in English - "just because the cockerel did not crow in the morning, does not mean that the sun will not rise". An excellent statement - the PAP has been saying repeatedly that if they do not win resoundingly, we as the population is sending the "wrong signal". Oh, PAP, stop the crap - you said that back in 1980 when JBJ got elected. Has the economy been affected? I am calling your bluff, PAP. Foreign investors and the economy in general is rather resilient from your party's tactics, which, I have to concede, was due to your party's policies in the early years. The problem with the PAP is that it's mentality has not changed over the years. It still uses the media to promote it's case to the exclusion of other views.

9. Tang challenged Chok Tong to a live, uncensored televised debate about Tang's character and attitudes. Chok Tong has rejected that saying that it is a red herring and a sideshow. Funny you should say that Chok Tong. I thought you doing the things you are doing about Tang is itself a sideshow!

10. It is interesting to hear another weightless minister, Wong Kan Seng to say that "we must examine all statements made by people who want to run for office". Bullshit, Kan Seng. Can say this or not - Choo Wee Khiang?